Mechanism for counting and delivering folded products



' 1,616,075 Feb. 1, 1927- H. P. CLAUBERG MECHANISM FOR COUNTING AND DELIVERING FOLDED PRODUCTS Filed Sept. 29, 1923 2 $heets$heet 1 m l'" I Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN 1?. CLAUBERG, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO B. HOE AND CO. INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MECHANISM FOR COUNTING AND DELIVERING FOLDED PRODUCTS.

v Application filed September 29, 1923. Serial No. 665,623.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mechanisms for counting printed products.

In certain types of deliveries the printed products, either in sheet or folded form are forwarded to a traveling carrier provided with pockets, this carrier being advanced step by step to present succeeding pockets, for the reception of the products after a number of products have been deliver-ed to a pocket. Where, in this type of delivery, the products were to be counted the carrier was driven so as to present a fresh pocket after a predetermined number of products had been delivered to a preceding pocket. The pocket carrier in these prior constructions was driven through a pawl and ratchet actuating mechanism, the pawl and ratchet operating to move the carrier a step or pocket length at the desired time. When it was desired to vary the number of products delivered to any particular pocket either the ratchet was changed, or a complicated system employing two or more ratchets was employed, or the cam by which the ratchet was operated was changed. The changing of these parts was inconvenient and required time and, furthermore, where a number of ratchets were employed the operating mechanism was very noisy.

The especial object of the invention is to produce a counting mechanism for counting products delivered by a step-by-step delivery or in bunches in which the number of products delivered in a bunch may be varied within certain limits with a minimum amount of mechanism and which necessitates no change in the operating mechanism for effecting the step-by-step movement of the carrier, such as removal or replacement of the parts, and in which quiet, smooth running of the mechanism is effected.

A further objectof the invention isto produce a mechanism of this character in which the actuating parts are simple, efficient in operation, and in which the adjustment for varying the number of products delivered in a bunch may be easily and quickly made.

With these and other objects not specifically referred to, the invention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinations which will be described in connecpion with the accompanying drawings and the novel features then pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation, partly broken away, of so much of a ste -by-step delivery as is necessary for the un erstanding of the invention;

, Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the parts in a difierent position;

Figure 3 is a plan view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the construction shown in Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a detail View showing the pawl guard; and,

Figure 5 is a detail side view of the operating cam.

Referring now to these drawingsthe various parts of the mechanism are supported in side frames 1, 2, of any usual or des red construction and configuration. The products are forwarded from a printing machine, not shown, to a cylinder 3, which may be a folding cylinder, the particular products in the present instance being folded products, this cylinder being suitably mounted on a shaft 4 supported in the frames of the machine. Cooperating with this cylinder are a plurality of stripper fingers 5, the ends of these fingers working in grooves of the cylinder and, acting to strip or remove the products from the cylinder. From the cylinder the products are delivered to a traveling carrier in the form of a pair of chains 7, 8. These chains carry fingers 9 spaced apart to form pockets 1-0 into which the products are dropped from the cylinder 3. These chains are carried over sprockets, two of which marked 11, is shown, these sprockets being mounted on a cross shaft 12. One of'these sprockets is a driven sprocket, in the particular construction illustrated, the sprocket 11 being driven to give carrier a step-by-step forward movement to advance the carrier a pocket length after a predetermined number of products has been deliver-ed to a pocket. The carrier chains also carry rods 13 which support belts 14 onto which the products are :*dropped and by which they are supported during their traveling movement, the belts supporting the fingers 9.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided for giving the carrier this step-by-step movement and these means will be such that the time of the carrier movement may be variec so as to permit a varying number of products to be delivered into a pocket, and these means will be such that this adjustment may be made without changing or replacing any of the operating parts of the mechanism. While the particular mechanism employed for edecting this may be somewhat varied, that shown is a preferred form and will now be described.

As shown, the shaft 12 which actuates the sprocket 11 is journaled in the side frames of the machine and at one end has secured thereto a gear 15. This gear is in mesh with a gear 16 carried on a stud 17 (see Fig. 3) supported in the side frame of the machine. Loosely mounted on the hub 18 of the gear 16 is a lever 19, this lever having a movement independent of the gear 16. Also mounted on the hub of the gear is a ratchet disk or wheel. 20 provided with operating notches or teeth 21.

Secured to one arm of the lever 19 is a link 22, the other end of this link being secured to a gear mounted on a stud 2 1 supported in the side frame of the machine. Mounted in the side frames of the machine is a driving shaft 25, this shaft extending across the machine and being provided with a driving gear 26. The other end of this shaft has secured thereto a gear 27 which gear is 'in mesh with the gear 23, before referred to. This shaft 25 is, through gearing and connections not shown, driven at the same speed as the cylinder 3, before referred to, so that the parts are operated in the correct relative time with respect to the product forwarding mechanism. The operating ratchet or disk 20 is given its step-by-step movement by a pawl 28 pivoted at 29 on the lever 19, this pawl being normally pressed into working position by a spring 30. With the construction so far described, the carrier is given a step-by-step movement after a predetermined number of products has been delivered to a pocket.

The machine as constructed in accordance with the invention, as before stated, is provided with means whereby this step-by-step movement of the carrier may be varied to vary the number of products which will be delivered to a pocket without necessitating the changing or rearranging of the operating mechanism. In the particular construction illustrated there is secured to the side frames a pair of brackets 81, 32, in which is journaled shaft This shaft at one end carries a worm wheel 34- which engages a worm on the end of the shaft 25 opposite the gear 26, the shaft extending beyond the gear 27 to provide for this worm. On the shaft 25 toward its other end is also mounted an operating cam 36. This operating cam forms an important featureof the invention as by the simple adjustment at this cam the timing of the carrier mechanism may be changed without dismantling or changing the operating mechanism. \Vhile this cam may be constructed in various forms, in the particular construction illustrated, this cam is in the form of a disk provided with a plurality of slots 3'7, four such slots being shown in the present instance. Adjustably mounted in these slots are what may be termed cam blocks 38 having cam noses 39. These blocks are slotted as indicated at 4:0 and are held in position in the slots as by set screws il, Cooperating with this cam is a cam roll 42 carried on a link 43, this link having a forked end is taking over the shaft 33, before referred to, this link at its lower end being held in position by a collar 4:5 on the shaft. The upper end of this link is secured to a pawl guard in the form of a segment tti, this pawl guard being rotatably journaled on the outer end of the stud 17, before referred to. Located between said pawl guard and a collar 47 (see Fig. 3) is a torsion spring 48, the purpose of this spring being to hold the cam roll 12 on the surface of the cam disk 36 and, at the same time, cause the pawl guard to normally assume the position shown in Fig. t, in which position the pawl is prevented by the guard from engaging with the feeding notches 21 of the ratchet 20 until, through the operation of the parts, the pawl guard is swung down by the engagement of the cam nose 39 with the roll 12 to the position shown in Fig. 2, at which time, the pawl is permitted to engage with a tooth of the ratchet 20 and, through the gear 23, link 22, and lever 19, acts to feed the carrier forward.

The provision of the adjustable cam blocks affords a nice adjustment in the timing.- Furthermore, the number of the products deposited in a pocket is varied by simply inserting or removing the desired number of the cam blocks. In the particular construction shown four variations are provided for. lVith this construction, therefore, a very simple and efficient mechanism is provided and one which is quiet and efficient in operation.

While the invention has been shown and described in what is believed to be its best form, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the specific structures shown and described without departing from the invention as defined in the claims hereunto appended.

What I claim is:

1. In a delivery, the combination of a die livery mechanism, a pawl and ratchet for operating the mechanism with a step-by-step movement, pawl operating mechanism, a pawl controlling cam having an adjustable cam surface, and a pawl guard actuated by the cam surface.

2. The combination of means for forwarding products, a step-by-step delivery to which the products are forwarded, a pawl and ratchet for operating the delivery, a gear and connections for operating the pawl, a pawl controlling cam having an adjustable cam surface, and a gear and connections for operating the cam.

3. In a delivery, the combination of a delivery mechanism, means for actuating the delivery with a step-by-step movement, and a cam having removable cam surfaces cooperating with the actuating mechanism for varying its time of operation.

4. In a delivery, the combination of a delivery mechanism, means for actuating the delivery with an intermittent movement, a guard normally preventing the operation of said means, and a cam having adjustable surfaces cooperating with the actuating means for varying its time of operation.

5. In a delivery, the combination of a delivery mechanism, means for actuating the delivery with an intermittent movement, a cam controlling the operation of said means, recesses in the cam, and cam blocks having cam surfaces removably mounted in the slots.

6. In a delivery, the combination of a delivery mechanism, means for actuating the delivery with an intermittent movement, a cam controlling the operation of said means, recesses in the cam, and cam blocks having cam surfaces adjustably mounted in the slots.

7. In a delivery, the combination of an intermittently movable delivery mechanism,

a pawl and ratchet for operating said mechanism, a pawl guard, a cam roll connected therewith, a cam cooperating with the roll and having an adjustable cam surface, and means for driving the cam.

8. In a delivery, the combination of an intermittently movable delivery mechanism, a pawl and ratchet for operating it, a pawl guard, a spring normally holding the guard in guarding position, a cam roll connected with the guard, a cam cooperating with the roll and having an adjustable cam surface, and means for driving the cam.

9. In a delivery, the combination of a delivery mechanism to which products are delivered, means for actuating the delivery with an intermittent movement after a predetermined number of products have been delivered thereto, and a cam having cam surfaces movable out of operative position and cooperating with the actuating mechanism for varying its time of operation.

10. In a delivery, the combination of a delivery mechanism to which products are delivered, means for actuating the delivery with an intermittent movement after a predetermined number of products have been delivered thereto, a shaft, and a cam on the shaft having cam surfaces cooperating with the actuating mechanism for varying its time of operation, said surfaces being movable out of operative position without removing the cam from the shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

HERMAN P. CLAUBERG. 

